An Illinois man has filed a new lawsuit against the manufacturers of Prilosec and Nexium, claiming that his long-term use of the medications caused acute kidney injury, leading to eventual kidney failure. He further alleges that Astra Zeneca and Proctor & Gamble failed to provide appropriate safety warnings to patients who used their proton pump inhibitors. (Case No. Case 3:17-cv-00133)

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois, on February 8th, Kenneth Lloyd Dravland, Jr. took Prilosec, Prilosec OTC and Nexium from May 2007 through June 2016. In March 2016, he was diagnosed with an acute kidney injury. That June, Dravland was diagnosed with acute kidney failure, and continues to suffer from renal failure today. His lawsuit asserts that the injuries would have been avoided had Dravland been provided with sufficient safety warnings.

“Despite Defendants’ knowledge of the increased risk of severe injury among PPI users, Defendants did not warn patients but instead continued to defend PPIs, mislead physicians and the public and minimize unfavorable findings,” the lawsuit states.

Proton Pump Litigation Still Growing

Millions of Americans use Nexium, Prilosec and other proton pump inhibitors to treat peptic disorders like GERD. However, a number of studies published in recent years have indicated that long-term use of these drugs might harm the kidneys. Most recently, a study published in Kidney International suggested that chronic kidney damage associated with proton pump inhibitors can come on gradually, meaning many patients won’t experience any acute renal symptoms before the disease has progressed.

According to RXInjuryHelp.com, a growing number of lawsuits have been filed in recent months over kidney injuries allegedly linked to proton pumpinhibitor use. Earlier this month, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) declined to grant a plaintiffs’ motion seeking centralization of the federal proton pump inhibitor docket in a single U.S. District Court. However, the litigation continues to grow, and some legal experts expect that another request for centralization will be filed with the JPML in the future.

Individuals who were diagnosed with serious kidney ailments following long-term use of Nexium or Prilosec may be entitled to compensation. To discuss your case with an attorney at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, please call (888) 994-8177.

Free Case EvalutionHave you or a loved one developed kidney issuesafter taking Nexium, Prilosec, or Prevacid?